Glen Affric is often called Scotland’s most beautiful glen, and it is hard to argue with that. Just 20 minutes south of Inverness on a single-track road, the glen takes you through ancient Caledonian pine forest, past two long lochs and into mountain country that feels a long way from anywhere.
The 11-mile circuit around Loch Affric is one of my favourite walks in Scotland. Here’s how to visit, what to do, and what’s changed recently, including the return of beavers to the glen for the first time in centuries.
How to get to Glen Affric
Glen Affric is reached via the village of Cannich, which sits at the junction of the A831 between Beauly and Drumnadrochit, about 25 miles west of Loch Ness.
- By car from Inverness: 45 minutes via the A82 and A831 through Beauly
- By car from Glasgow or Edinburgh: around 3 hours
- By bus: Stagecoach service 17A runs from Inverness to Cannich. From Cannich you need your own transport to reach the glen itself
- The single-track road into Glen Affric runs west from Cannich for about 10 miles to the River Affric car park. Single-track with passing places throughout — take it steady
Parking is pay and display at all four Forestry Commission car parks (Dog Falls, Loch Beinn a’ Mheadhoin, River Affric, and Plodda Falls). One ticket covers all car parks for the day.
Glen Affric
Walking through Glen Affric, the 11-mile circular path around Loch Affric must be one of Scotland’s most awe-inspiring walks. Amongst the remnants of Scotland’s ancient Caledonian Scots Pine forest, the walk takes you alongside the River Affric, past Loch Affric and Loch Beinn a’ Mheadhain amongst huge surrounding mountains.
Now owned by the Forestry Commission Scotland, and the National Trust for Scotland, Glen Affric was once Clan Chisholm and Clan Fraser of Lovat country – and also once hid Bonnie Prince Charlie, Outlander fans!
Glen Affric is now one of 48 National Nature Reserves in Scotland and since 2015, the Trees for Life ‘Glen Affric Forest Landscape Project’ has been restoring the 55 sq mile glen, restoring the ancient Caledonian Forest, planting 30,000 native trees.
At the end of Glen Affric is the Athnamulloch Bothy, restored by the Trees for Life Project, and Strawberry Cottage, a mountain bothy managed by the An Teallach Mountaineering club. Further down the glen is the remote Alltbeithe Youth Hostel, used by those walking the 44 mile Affric to Kintail Way which runs through the glen.
In October 2025, a family of five beavers and a breeding pair were reintroduced to Loch Beinn a’ Mheadhoin as part of a Trees for Life rewilding project. It is the first time beavers have lived in Glen Affric for several hundred years. The beavers were relocated from agricultural land in Tayside under licence from NatureScot.
If you fancy visiting Glen Affric, the Forestry Commission has a great guide to the area.
Walks in Glen Affric
Glen Affric circular walk
- Distance: 11 miles (18km)
- Time: 5 to 6 hours
- Difficulty: Moderate to hard
- Start/Finish: River Affric car park
The circuit around Loch Affric is the best walk in the glen. The route follows the northern bank of the loch west through ancient pinewoods, passes Affric Lodge, and reaches the remote western end of the loch before crossing the River Affric to return along the southern shore. The contrast between the wooded north side and the more open, moorland south side is one of the things that makes this walk special. Take a packed lunch — there is nothing for miles.
See the Walk Highlands route for the full guide.
Dog Falls (short walk)
- Distance: 2 miles
- Time: 1.25 hours
- Difficulty: Easy
- Start/Finish: Dog Falls car park, 4 miles west of Cannich
The Dog Falls walk follows the River Affric through pine and birch woodland to a series of falls in a rocky gorge. The official viewing platform can be a bit disappointing for the falls themselves, but the riverside rocks a little further on give much better views. A good option for families or if the weather is closing in.
Viewpoint Trail
- Distance: 1.45 miles
- Time: 1 hour
- Difficulty: Easy
- Start/Finish: Dog Falls car park
A shorter circular walk from the Dog Falls car park climbing to a viewpoint over the glen. Good for a quick outing if you don’t have time for the full circuit.
Plodda Falls
On the south side of the glen, west of the village of Tomich, is Plodda Falls — one of Scotland’s most spectacular waterfalls. The falls drop 46 metres straight down into a gorge, viewed from a platform built out directly over the edge. The surrounding woodland is dominated by huge Douglas firs, some of the tallest trees in Scotland. Plodda is the least visited of the Glen Affric car parks and worth the detour.
- Follow the minor road west from Tomich to the car park
- Pay and display; the ticket covers all Glen Affric car parks for the day
The Affric Kintail Way
For those wanting a longer adventure, the Affric Kintail Way is a 44-mile (70km) long-distance route running from Drumnadrochit on Loch Ness through Glen Affric and over the hills to Morvich in Kintail on the west coast. It is suitable for walkers and mountain bikers and can be completed in 3 to 4 days. At the end of Glen Affric the route passes Athnamulloch Bothy and the remote Alltbeithe Youth Hostel, both useful overnight stops.
See affrickintailway.com for the full route.
Wildlife in Glen Affric
Glen Affric is one of the best places in Scotland to see native woodland wildlife. The Caledonian pine forest provides habitat that has almost disappeared elsewhere in Scotland.
- Red squirrels are resident throughout the glen and regularly seen at the Dog Falls car park area
- Pine martens are present but rarely seen — your best chance is at dusk
- Golden eagles breed in the hills above the glen and can be spotted soaring above the ridges on clear days
- Ospreys fish on the lochs in summer
- Black-throated divers breed on the lochs — look for them in the quieter western sections
- Red deer are visible on the open hillsides, particularly in the early morning and evening
- Beavers — reintroduced in October 2025 to Loch Beinn a’ Mheadhoin. Your best chance of seeing them is at dawn or dusk near the loch margins
Glen Strathfarrar
To the north of Glen Affric, accessed via the village of Struy on the A831, is Glen Strathfarrar. Unlike Glen Affric, the road into the glen is private, which keeps it genuinely remote and quiet. You can walk and cycle in Glen Strathfarrar all year round, but to drive in you need a day permit from the gatekeeper at the entrance gate — only 25 cars are allowed in each day.
To get a permit, park up at the gate, ring the doorbell of the small cottage, and ask for a permit. In winter the gate arrangements change — check Mountaineering Scotland for current access information before visiting.
Much of the land in the Strathglass glens is owned and managed by highland sporting estates. The management of woodland, red deer, black grouse and brown trout is a way of life in this region. Keep an eye out for stags on the drive and eagles overhead.
The road through the glen runs 14 miles from the gate to the Monar dam — the (controversial) building of which doubled the size of Loch Monar. The drive or cycle to the dam and back makes a good day out. You are not allowed to park overnight in the glen; to wild camp you need to walk or cycle in.
Following the River Farrar alongside Loch a’ Mhuillidh and Loch Benneacharan, the lack of cars gives a real feeling of remoteness. It is one of the least visited glens in Scotland.
When to visit Glen Affric
May and June — long days, reasonable weather, midges not yet at their worst. The woodland walks are lovely in early summer with the pines reflecting in the lochs.
September and October — the best months for colour. The birch trees turn gold and the contrast with the dark Scots pines is spectacular. Red deer rut through October. Midges have largely gone by mid-September.
November to March — the glen is open year-round but the upper Munros become serious winter mountaineering propositions. The lower walks (Dog Falls, Plodda Falls) are manageable in winter with the right gear. Snow on the glen floor is possible from November.
July and August — the midges are at their worst, particularly in still weather near the loch margins. Pack Smidge. Car parks fill early on summer weekends.
Where to stay near Glen Affric
The nearest village with accommodation is Cannich, about 10 miles from the River Affric car park. Beauly and Drumnadrochit are both within 30 minutes.
For something special, we stayed at Eagle Brae luxury log cabins in Strathglass on our visit – beautifully designed cabins in the hills above the glen with incredible views. Highly recommended.
FAQs
Where is Glen Affric?
Glen Affric is in the Scottish Highlands, about 20 minutes south of Inverness near the village of Cannich. The A831 from Beauly or Drumnadrochit takes you to Cannich, from where a single-track road runs west into the glen. It is around 25 miles (40km) west of Loch Ness.
How long is the Glen Affric circular walk?
The main circular walk around Loch Affric is 11 miles (18km) and takes around 5 to 6 hours. It starts from the River Affric car park at the western end of Loch Beinn a’ Mheadhoin. A shorter option is the Dog Falls walk, which is 2 miles and takes about 1.25 hours.
Is Glen Affric good for wildlife?
Yes. Glen Affric is one of Scotland’s best places for wildlife. Red squirrels, pine martens, red deer and golden eagles are all resident. In October 2025, beavers were reintroduced to Loch Beinn a’ Mheadhoin for the first time in centuries. Ospreys and black-throated divers can also be seen on the lochs.
How do you get a permit for Glen Strathfarrar?
To drive into Glen Strathfarrar you need a day permit, available from the gatekeeper at the entrance gate near the village of Struy. Only 25 cars are allowed in per day. You can walk and cycle in the glen without a permit year-round. In winter, contact the Mountaineering Scotland website for access arrangements.
Where is Plodda Falls?
Plodda Falls is on the south side of Glen Affric, near the village of Tomich. It is reached by a minor road west from Tomich and has its own Forestry Commission car park. The falls drop 46 metres into a gorge and are best viewed from the platform built out over the edge.
I can’t quite decide on which of the glens is my favourite, I’ll leave it up to you to choose.
Love, from Scotland x
